9-b-homo-19-norsteroids and preparation thereof



United States Patent 3,234,269 9-B-HOM0-19-NORSTEROTDS AND PREEARATION THEREQF Oskar .lleger and Kurt Schaifner, Zurich, Switzerland, assignors to Cilia Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 235,825 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Nov. 1961, 12,99ti/61 Claims. (Cl. 260438) The present invention provides new homosteroids and a process for their manufacture. The new homosteroids are distinguished by the fact that in them the carbon atom of the 19-methyl group is a member of an extended ring B and the original bond between the carbon atoms 9 and is split up. They may, therefore, be looked upon as 9:10-seco-9:19 cyclosteroids or as 9-B-hom0-19- norsteroids. v

The new compounds are obtained by treating a 95:19- cycle-l l-oxosteroid with an acid, whereupon if desired, in the resulting 9-B-horno-l9-norsteroid the ll-oxo group is reduced to the ll-hydroxyl group, or eliminated under reducing conditions, in known manner.

The splitting up of the cyclopropane ring with formation of a 7-membered B-ring according to the invention is accompanied by formation of a double bond which, in the presence of a 3-oxo group, migrates into the 4:5- position. The reaction described in Example 1 can be represented by the following formulae The isomerisation according to the present invention is quite unexpected since it is known that 1:112:2-tetrasubstituted cyclopropane rings on reaction with acids are opened up between carbon atoms 1 and 3, or 2 and 3, with formation of a methyl group:

In contradistinction thereto, in the case of the present you (3H 5 c-c 3; cr 1 2\ 1 2 starting materials, the bond between carbon atoms 1 and 2 is broken.

tyric acid or the like, or in a lower aliphatic alcohol such, for example, as methanol, ethanol, butanol, more especially tertiary butanol or tertiary amyl alcohol. Any ketals, enolethers and enamines present are split up during the reaction.

If desired, the ll-oxo-group in the products of the invention may be reduced to the 11-hydroxy group or eliminated under reducing conditions. The reduction of the ll-oxo group to the 11-hydroxyl group is achieved, for example, on treatment with catalytically activated hydrogen or with complex metal hydrides, such as lithium aluminium hydride, sodium borohydride and the like. When a A -3-keto group is present, it is likewise reduced, but it is easy to regenerate it subsequently by mild oxidation, for example according to Oppenauer. Elimination of an ll-oxo group under reducifigconditions preferably follows the procedure" described by Wolfi-Kishner; before this elimination the other keto groups present in the molecule are protected, for example by conversion into the corresponding ketals,

The 9,8:19-cycl0-11-oxosteroids used as starting materials are advantageously manufactured by the processes described in US. patent applications Ser. No. 211,103 filed July 19, 1962 by Oskar Jeger et 211., now US. Patent 3,147,251, and Ser. No. 227,594 filed October 1, 1962, by Oskar Jeger et a1. according to which l9-unsubstituted ll-oxosteroids are irradiated with ultra-violet light and the resulting 11;8:19-cyclo-l1a-hydroxy compounds are converted into the corresponding 11-oxo-19-hydroxysteroids by being treated with lead tetraacetate. The last-mentioned substances yield the desired 9,8:19-cycloll-oxosteroids on esterification of the 19-hydroxy group with a sulfonic acid and treatment with a basic agent.

As starting materials for use in the present process there are particularly suitable 96:19-cyclo-11-oxosteroids of the andr0stane,- pregnane, cholane, cholestane, spirostane and cardanolide series, as well as triterpenes of the type of ll-oxo-cyclo-artenol. They may contain further substituents, for example in one or several of the positions 2, 4 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21 or in the side chain such, for example, as alkyl (for example, lower alkyl) groups such as methyl groups or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon residues such, for example, as ethinyl groups; free or protected (that is to say esterified or etherified) hydroxyl groups; free or functionally converted keto groups such, for example, as ketals, enamines, enolethers or the like, and halogen atoms. The compounds may further contain one or several double bonds, for example in ring D or in the side chain.

Specific starting materials are:

:ZO-diethylenedioxy-l l-oxo-9fi: 19-cyclo-5 a-pregnane,

: 1 1220-trioxo-9fi: 19-cyclopregnane,

: 1 1 20-trioxo-21-acyloxy-9fl: 19-cyclopregnane,

: 17-diethylenedioxy-1 1 -oxo-9l3: 19-cyc1o androstane,

: 111 174rioxo-938: 19-cycloandrostane,

: 1 1-dioxo-17 8-hydroxyandrostane,

: 11-dioxo-175-acyloxy-95: 19-cycloandrostane,

: 11-dioxo 17/3-acyloxy-17a-methyl-95: 19-

cycloandrostane;

furthermore A 3 1 1-dioxo-9p: 19-cyclolanostene and 3: 1 1-dioxo-9fi:'19-cyclospirostane.

From among the new 9:10-seco-9:19-cyclosteroids obtained by the present process special mention deserve those of the pregnane and androstane series containing a A -3-keto group, in position 17 a 17 3-hydroxyl or lieto group or an acetone side chain or a free or esterified hydroxyacetone side chain, and in position 17 a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon residue such, for example as a 3 methyl group or a hydroxyl group, and which may be substituted, for example in position 2, 6 or 16, by a methyl group, in position 6 and/ or 12 by a halogen atom and in position 11 by an oxo group or a hydroxyl group. Especially important final products are, for example, such of the Formulae I and II CHgRs in which R stands for oxo, hydrogen and hydroxy or hydrogen and acyloxy, R for hydrogen, oxo, hydrogen and hydroxy or hydrogen and acycloxy R for oxo, hydrogen or lower alkly, alkenyl or alkinyl and B-positioned hydroxy or acyloxy, X for hydrogen, methyl, fluorine or chlorine, R for hydrogen or methyl and R5 and R for hydrogen, hydroxy or acyloxy, and the dehydro derivatives thereof which contain a double bond starting from carbon atom 5 and those of the Formula II which may also contain a double bond starting from carbon atom 16.

Special mention among these compounds deserve the following:

A -3 1 1 :20-trioxo-9: -seco-9: 19cyclopregn-ene,

A -3 1 1:20-trioxo-21-hydroxy-9: 10-seco-9: 19-

cyclopregnene andits esters,

A -3 :-dioxo-9: 10 seco;-9: 19-cyclo-pregnene, furthermore A -3 l1 l7-trioxo-9: l0-seco-9: l9-cycloandrostene,

A -3 11-dioxo-17fi7hydroXy-9: 10-seco-9: 19.-

cycloandrostene and its esters,

A -3: 11-dioxo-17/3-hydroxy-17a-alkyl-92 10-seco-9z19- oycloandrostenes, more especially A -3: 11-dioxo-l7fihydroxy-lh-methyl, -17a-ethyl, -l7a-allyl, -l7a-methallyl, -l7a-ethinyl-9: l0-seco-9: 19- cycloandrostene, and their esters,

and also the corresponding ll-unsubstituted compounds such, for example, as

A -3-oxo-17phydroXy-9: lO-seco-9: 19-cycloandrostene, A -3-oxo-l7fl-hydroxyl7a-methyl-9: 10-seco-9: 19- cycloandrostene and its esters.

and the corresponding llfl-hydroxy compounds such, for

example, as

A -3-oxo-1 1,8: 17,8-dihydroxy-9: 10-seco-9: 19-

cycloandrostene and its esters,

'The acid residues in the above-mentioned esters are more especially derived from aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic, heterocyclic or aromatic carboxylic acids respectively, preferably those containing 1 to 15 carbon atoms, for example formates, acetates, propionates, butyrates, trimethy-lacetates, o-enan'thates, caprloates, decanoates, cyclopentylpropionates, valerates, benzoates, furoates, hexahydrobenzoates, phenylpropionates, trifluoroacetates, ethyl carbonates, methyl carbonates and the like.

The products of the present process constitute a new type of steroids containing a 7-membered B-ring; they are pharmacologically active or can be used as intermediates for the manufacture of pharmacologically active steroids.

such groups can be introduced into the product in known manner. Thus, for example, a S-hydroxyl group can be? converted into an oxo group and in compounds that contain a long side chainsuch, for example, as the cholestane or spirostane compoundssaid side chain can be degraded to the hydroxyacetone side chain or to a hydroxyl or oxo group.

The following examples illustrate the invention.

Example 1 70 mg. of 3:11:20-trioX0-9fi:19-cyclo-5ot-pregnane in 10 cc. of glacial acetic acid and 1.5 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid are refluxed for 30 minutes. The solution is then poured into water and the Whole is extracted with ether. The organic phase is washed with sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated under vacuum to yield 60 mg. of crude product which displays in the ultra-violet absorption spectrum a maximum at 242 m (e=9450). An ethereal solution of this product is filtered through neutral alumina (activity II}, to yield 50 mg. of crystals which after two recrystallisation's from a mixture of methylene chloride, ether and petroleum ether melt at 140 to 141 C. Ultra-violet absorption spectrum in ethanolzx =242 m (e -12,500). Infra-red spectrum in chloroform: bands at 1710, 1670 and 162 5- cm. Nuclear magnetic resonancespectrum 66 mg. in

0.3 cc. of deuterochloroform): 5:5.97/broa'd singletg.

2.13/singlet;0.61/singlet. Optical rotation (c.=0.91 in chloroform).

The product thus obtained is A -3zllz20-trioxo-9zl0- seco-9: 19-cyclopregnene.

The 3:11:20-trioxo-9fi:19-cyclo-5u-pregnane used as starting material can be prepared as follows:

mg. of 3:20-diethylenedioxy-11-oxo-9f3:l9-cyclo- Su-pregnane [prepared by the process described in the aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 227,594] are heated in 2 cc. of glacial acetic acid, 2 cc. of methanol and 5 drops of water for 1 /2 hours at 60 C. and then allowed to cool. The solution is taken up in ether and the organic phase is washed with sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water. The ethereal solution is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated,. to yield 70 mg. of crystals having a constant melting; point of 163.5 to 164 C. after having been tw1ce recrystallised from acetone-l-petroleum ether. Opt1cal rotation [a] ='+l65 (c.=0.42 in chloroform). Infra red spectrum in carbon tetrachloride: bands at 1714 and 1683 cmf Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (18 mg. in 0.3 of a 1:1-mixture of deuterochloroform and carbon tetra-chloride): 5=2.88/doublet/I=15 cycles; 2.11/ singlet; 0.7 0/ doublet/ I=about 0.8 cycle. The product is 3:11:20-trioxo-9fi:19-cyclo-5a-pregnane.

Example 2 A solution of 100 mg. of 3:l1-dioxo-175-acetoxy-l7umethyl-9B:19-cyclo-5a-androstanc in 10 cc. of glacial acetic acid and 1.5 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid is refluxed for 50 minutes. The cooled reaction mixture is poured into water, taken up in ether, and the ethereal solution is washed with sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water until the washings run neutral, dried and. evaporated. The resulting crude A -3n11-dioxo-1 'lix methyll7B-acetoxy-9 10-seco-9 l9-cycloazndm lfinfi. (,abr

sorption maximum in ultra-violet at 243 m [e=9600]) is purified by chromatography on alumina.

In identical manner 3211-(110X0-17fi-HC610XY-9fi119- cyclO-Sa-androstane yields -3 11-dioxo-17fi-acetoxy- 9: 10-seco-9: 19-cycloandrostene which, in its turn, is converted by alkaline hydrolysis into the corresponding free l7fi-hydroxy compound.

The 9,9:19-cyclo compounds used as starting materials can be prepared from S-ethylenedioxy-l1-oxo-17a-methyl-l7fi-acetoxy-5ct-androstane and 3-ethy1enedioxy-1I- oxo-17,8-acetoXy-5a-androstane respectively by the processes described in the afore-mentioned patent applications Ser. No. 211,103 and Ser. No. 227,594 by irradiation, subsequent treatment with lead tetraacetate, mesylation of the 19-hydroxy group, alkaline treatment, subsequent further acetylation of the partially hydrolysed 17(3-acetoxy group and deketalisation in position 3.

What is claimed is:

1. A member selected from the group consisting of compounds having the formulae (lJHrRa C=O i and O acyl and in which R represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkiuyl, R represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl and R and R each represent a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy and acyloxy, the 4-dehydroderivatives of the 3-oxo compounds and the 5(10')-dehydro derivatives of the compounds containing a hydrogen atom in the 3-position, said acyl groups being derived from carboxylic acids containing up to 15 carbon atoms said carboxylic acids being selected from the. group consisting of alkane-carboxylic acids, cycloalkane-carboxylic acids, benzoic acid, benzene-lower alkane-carboxylic acids, furoic acid and trifluoroacetic acid.

2. A 6,11-dioxy-17p-acetoxy-9J0 seco 9,19-cycloandrostene.

3. A -3,11 dioxy 17ti-acetoxy-l7oz-methyh9,10-seco- 9,19-cyclo-androstene.

4. A -3,1 1,20-trioxo-9,10-seco-9,19-cyclo-pregnene.

5. A -3,1120 trioxo-Zl-hydroXy-9,10-seco-9,19-cyclopregnene.

6. A -3 ,1 1,17-trioxo-9,10-seco-9,19-cyclo-androstene.

7. A -3,11 dioxo I'IB-hydroxy-Q,10-seco-9,19-cycloandrostene.

8. A 3,1l-dioxo-1718-hydroxy-17a-rnethyl-9,l0 seco- 9,19-cyclo-androstene.

9. Process for the manufacture of a member selected from the group consisting of A -3,11-diox0-9,10-seco-9,19- cycle-steroids, A590) 3 hydroxy-l l-oxo-9,10-seco-9,19- cycle-steroids and A -3-acyloxy-11-oxo9,1O-seco-9,l9- cyclo-steroids unsubstituted in land 5-positi0n, wherein a 3-R-1l-oxo-9 3,19-cyclo-steroid in which R represents a member selected from the group consisting of 0x0, lower alkylenedioxy, hydrogen together with hydroxy and hydrogen together with acyloxy, which is unsubstituted in 1- and 5-position and saturated in S-position, and said acyl radicals are derived from carboxylic acids containing up to 15 carbon atoms, is treated with an acid selected from the group consisting of a mineral acid, a strong organic acid and a Lewis-acids in a solvent.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,040,093 6/1962 Muller 260-488 3,059,019 10/1962 Ringold 260586 X 3,061,636 10/1962 Muller 260488 3,076,023 1/1963 Kaspar 260488 OTHER REFERENCES Wagner: Synthetic Organic Chemistry, pages 5 7 and 149-152, (1953).

LORRAINE A. WEINBERGER, Primary Examiner. LEON ZITVER, Examiner. 

1. A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF COMPOUNDS HAVING THE FORMULAE 